Didier Begoude (Ph.D.)

Aime Didier Begoude Boyogueno (Ph.D.), holder of a PhD in Microbiology and Plant Pathology from the Centre for Tree Health Biotechnology at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI), University of Pretoria, South Africa since January 2010. Currently, He is involved in a research programme focusing in the development of biotechnologies for a sustainable agriculture in Cameroon and other countries in west and central Africa. He has extensive experience in agriculture, particularly studying diseases of cacao (Theobromae cacao) and developing environmentally-safe strategies to control fungal diseases of cacao in Cameroon. His research on cacao focused on biological control of cacao black pod disease due to Phytophthora megakarya. The biocontrol project has led to the development of a biological formulation using mycoparasitic strains of Trichoderma asperellum as active ingredient. Field applications showed that the formulation improved the flowering activity of cacao trees as well as pod development, while reducing Phytophthora infection in flower cushions. This initiative has benefited farmers by providing them with additional alternative to chemical control. On the other hand, strains of Trichoderma spp are also incredible asset in promotion of plant growth. To date, a Trichoderma-based enriched substrate has been developed and is being used in cocoa cultivation to address the obnoxious question of nutrient availability for plant growth with the aim to maximize early growth and obtain high early yields but also to sustain peak yields. His research has produced several papers, published in domestic and international journals or presented at congresses and meetings.

ABOUT COCOASOILS

The CocoaSoils program has been created to develop ISFM recommendations that will be delivered towards the sustainable intensification of cocoa production.